Jill B. Shestokas

Candidate Q&A

Why do you want to be a commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and why do you believe you are qualified?

I am qualified as I won two national awards during my almost 4 year term as the Public Affairs Manager at MWRD.  I was the agency spokesperson during crisis weather events.  I developed all external comms re legislative happenings, the media, the public, and intergovernmental affairs. I directed a $4 million dollar budget to over see FOIA, External education, library research, law-related communications re water management, technology, process and community resources.

With rainstorms more frequent and severe, the Deep Tunnel system and the MWRD reservoirs fill up. As a result, it’s sometimes necessary to release sewage overflows into waterways. What other strategies should the MWRD employ to reduce those sewage releases?

MWRD must lead a clear, long-range strategy to modernize our nearly century-old combined sewer infrastructure, establishing guidelines for new and redevelopment that incorporate emerging technologies and adaptive stormwater management. MWRD identifies many solutions but must take a stronger leadership role in their implementation.

Equally important is engaging people, from classrooms to communities, in making water conservation and environmental stewardship second nature.

A single public dashboard should connect residents with flood information, practical resources, and opportunities to report problems and participate in solutions.

Keep the rain where it falls. Reduce pressure on our sewers. Prevent overflows.

How else can the MWRD improve conditions in area waterways to reduce public health threats?

Improving water quality and protecting public health begins with preventing pollution before it enters our waterways, rather than relying solely on treatment after the fact.

My 360-degree Human Ecology approach recognizes that our waterways, infrastructure, communities, and public health are interconnected. We must maintain and modernize treatment facilities, strengthen water-quality monitoring, collaborate with public-health agencies and research institutions, and address emerging contaminants through sound science and practical solutions.

Public education and partnerships with municipalities, businesses, and residents are essential to reducing pollution at its source.

Do you think the MWRD does a good job informing the public about permeable paving, “green alleys,” rain barrels and other methods of reducing flooding?

MWRD has useful programs, but the opportunity for more accessible, sustained public education is substantial. I would expand practical outreach through municipalities, schools, neighborhood groups, and social media, to engage residents what rain barrels, rain gardens, native plants, green alleys, and permeable paving can accomplish. The message should be simple: keep the rain where it falls. People should know which actions are affordable, where to find assistance, and how those actions benefit their own neighborhoods. A single public portal will go a long way to access this info.

Do you think the MWRD has a role in reducing contaminants like prescription drugs / pharmaceuticals and toxic chemicals like phosphates?

Absolutely. As one of the world’s largest and historically most respected wastewater treatment agencies, the MWRD has both the expertise and responsibility to lead in addressing pharmaceuticals, phosphorus, and other contaminants.

My 360-degree Human Ecology approach emphasizes prevention as well as treatment. That means collaborating with universities, healthcare institutions, industry, and other agencies to research emerging contaminants, improve phosphorus removal and recovery, and reduce pollutants at their sources.

We can also leverage existing resources, social media, and community outreach to educate the public and encourage responsible choices without creating costly new programs.

**Leadership means delivering cleaner water through sound science, collaboration, and measurable results—not simply spending more taxpayer dollars.**

Do you believe the MWRD has a role in preventing aquatic invasive species from entering the Chicago waterway system?

Absolutely. I have firsthand experience addressing the threat to deliver results. During my tenure as MWRD Public Affairs Director, Asian carp were an emerging and serious threat to the Chicago Area Waterway System and Lake Michigan.

Working directly with the International Joint Commission, I helped convene federal, state, local, and international partners to coordinate protective measures, including electric dispersal barriers and safeguards along connecting waterways.

The MWRD must remain an active partner in monitoring, prevention, research, and coordinated response.

Like neighborhood flooding, aquatic invasive species recognize no political or jurisdictional boundaries, and neither should our efforts to stop them.

What specific water infrastructure projects or investments would you pursue if elected?

My priority is finishing what we’ve started, on time, investing strategically, and measuring success by homes protected, infrastructure improved, taxpayer dollars responsibly managed, and a skilled workforce prepared for the future.

I would prioritize completing long-delayed flood prevention projects, including Harvey’s Central Park project, while ensuring critical treatment facilities and aging intercepting sewers are properly maintained and modernized. My commitment to finishing languishing projects and demanding accountability was among the reasons the Chicago Tribune endorsed my candidacy.

I would establish a public Project Delivery Dashboard tracking major infrastructure projects from authorization through completion, including original and current costs, timelines, progress, and reasons for delays.

We must also identify opportunities to generate revenue and offset taxpayer costs. Restoring the Lockport Hydroelectric Power Station to productive operation, expanding beneficial uses of biosolids, and exploring other resource recovery opportunities deserve serious attention.

Finally, investing in infrastructure means investing in the people who will operate and maintain it. I would work with unions, vocational education programs, colleges, and universities to develop apprenticeships, internships, and career pathways that prepare the next generation of skilled workers.

Good infrastructure policy protects today’s families, prepares tomorrow’s workforce, and respects the taxpayers who fund it.

Our long-range infrastructure strategy must be grounded in comprehensive, science-based ecosystem analysis, with clear priorities, measurable milestones, and a realistic timeline that serves generations to come.

Manage Water. Respect Dollars.